As we prepare to travel to Nashville, we have stars swirling in our minds. Those stars are named Kasparov, Kosteniuk, and Ashley to name a few: that's chess superstar Garry Kasparov, Women's World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, and Grandmaster Maurice Ashley. U.S Champion Yuri Shulman will also attend along with GMs Stripunsky and Shabalov.
I'm looking forward to attending a simul or two and see what aura these grandmasters emit. It's probably different than the bigger than life athletic superstars, but I'm sure there will be a comparable buzz as over 5000 scholastic chess players look over their shoulders to see some of the biggest names in the chess world in the same room.
In 48 hours I will be at the Opryland Resort and wondering if sleep will come and if Friday will proceed smoothly. I can't wait!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
The Countdown to Supernationals is On!
Most Mainers who play chess will be wondering how their compatriots will be doing in Nashville at the scholastic Supernationals (K-12). Well, I'll be keeping you posted as soon as I get set up down there. Stay tuned- 110 hours and counting!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Nate Bryans wins JB Fundraiser
Nate Bryans was the clear winner over an impressive field in the John Bapst G/35 tournament March 27. Bryans defeated Roger Peterson when Peterson's flag fell in a tight first round game. He then took advantage of a Zening Chen blunder in round 2 before defeating Aaron Spencer for top honors in the last round. It was an even tournament as the final standings pointed out: Bryans 3.0, Spencer 2.0, Chen 1.5, Ed Nevells 1.5, Peterson 1.5, Yuri Riabkov 1.0, Jiawei Zou 1.0, and Margaret Bryan 0.5. The average rating of the group was well over 1500, an excellent turnout for the area.
In the second quad Andrew Bryan was 2.0 in the two games he played which tied him with John Paul Kenneway who won two of three games. Daniel Honeycutt (1.0), Jessica Chen (1.0), and Anna Bryan who went winless in one house game rounded out the field.
The tournament was directed by Laddy Deluca Lowell in her first event as chief TD. Everything went smoothly; congratulations Laddy!
Proceeds from this tournament went to the John Bapst trip to Nationals. A special thanks goes out to those who donated toward the trip. It was a hotly contested evening and very enjoyable!
In the second quad Andrew Bryan was 2.0 in the two games he played which tied him with John Paul Kenneway who won two of three games. Daniel Honeycutt (1.0), Jessica Chen (1.0), and Anna Bryan who went winless in one house game rounded out the field.
The tournament was directed by Laddy Deluca Lowell in her first event as chief TD. Everything went smoothly; congratulations Laddy!
Proceeds from this tournament went to the John Bapst trip to Nationals. A special thanks goes out to those who donated toward the trip. It was a hotly contested evening and very enjoyable!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Tournament Tomorrow at UMaine
The G/35 Tournament will be in the FFA Room of the Memorial Union. We're excited to have Zening Chen join us on his spring break from Stanford. We now have five preregistered along with the seven expected from the John Bapst team and coach Yuri Riabkov. The chess is expected to be of high quality along with the fact that it is at Action time control. We also have a couple youngsters who will be leading the way in the second octet. I'm hoping that we have an even 16 for two octets. See you at the Memorial Union!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Friday Night Fights!
This Friday at the Memorial Union there will be a three round G/35 tournament to help defray the cost of the state champion John Bapst chess team to Nashville. So far Roger Peterson and Jiawei Zou are signed up to join the Crusader team. The format groups players in octets for a three round swiss. It was fun event last year and this year we expect a few more players to vie for a $25 prize and support their state's representative to Supernationals. Check the events page on www.chessmaine.net for all the necessary info. Hope to see you all there!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
State Champions Crowned!
The High School Championship section went to senior Gabe Borland from Orono. Gabe defeated Andrew Audibert of Bangor in the final round to complete a perfect 4.0 day. Borland benefited from a third round draw between favorites Lukas McCain and Aaron Spencer. McCain took the second place trophy with a final score of 3.5. As is the vagaries of tournament chess, McCain, the highest rated scholastic player in the state by around 250 points, is denied the opportunity to play in the Denker High School Tournament of Champions yet again. He has done a terrific job coming in the second place position three consecutive years. I'm sure he'll have more successes in the years ahead. Borland came in as the fourth highest rated and held his position as the top three were unable to keep pace. Congratulations, Gabe! Good luck at the Denker.
At the K-8 level ratings held to form as Matthew Fishbein faced off with MathCounts champion Paul Rudnicki. Fishbein held a strong position in the final round and was able to wear down Rudnicki. Fishbein now has won at three levels (K-3, K-6, K-8) and is only a fifth grader. He is thinking about challenging the highschoolers next year. Congratulations, Matthew!
The K-6 Championship section came down to a tight battle between teammates Matthew Reale-Hatem and Wesley Parker. It was a pawn endgame that finally tilted Reale-Hatem's way. During the game each player had offered a draw which would have resulted in a four way tie that would have included Anna Bryan and Humza Khan who each scored 3.5 pts. Reale-Hatem finished with a perfect score of 4.0 for the title. Great job, Matthew!
The K-3 Championship saw Max Deluca Lowell of the Airline School and Kinsey Bartlett of Deer Isle-Stonington draw in the final game to share the championship with 3.5 points. It was a tight game with Bartlett approaching the queening spaces with two pawns while Deluca Lowell had a bishop and a knight. When it appeared difficult to queen for Bartlett and Deluca Lowell seeing it would be difficult checkmate with his pieces, a draw was agreed upon. Congratulations to both Max and Kinsey!
We now wish those 30+ students who are heading to Nashville to represent the great state of Maine at Supernationals good luck. The scholastic season is now over. Good luck high school seniors; may we see you soon over the board!
At the K-8 level ratings held to form as Matthew Fishbein faced off with MathCounts champion Paul Rudnicki. Fishbein held a strong position in the final round and was able to wear down Rudnicki. Fishbein now has won at three levels (K-3, K-6, K-8) and is only a fifth grader. He is thinking about challenging the highschoolers next year. Congratulations, Matthew!
The K-6 Championship section came down to a tight battle between teammates Matthew Reale-Hatem and Wesley Parker. It was a pawn endgame that finally tilted Reale-Hatem's way. During the game each player had offered a draw which would have resulted in a four way tie that would have included Anna Bryan and Humza Khan who each scored 3.5 pts. Reale-Hatem finished with a perfect score of 4.0 for the title. Great job, Matthew!
The K-3 Championship saw Max Deluca Lowell of the Airline School and Kinsey Bartlett of Deer Isle-Stonington draw in the final game to share the championship with 3.5 points. It was a tight game with Bartlett approaching the queening spaces with two pawns while Deluca Lowell had a bishop and a knight. When it appeared difficult to queen for Bartlett and Deluca Lowell seeing it would be difficult checkmate with his pieces, a draw was agreed upon. Congratulations to both Max and Kinsey!
We now wish those 30+ students who are heading to Nashville to represent the great state of Maine at Supernationals good luck. The scholastic season is now over. Good luck high school seniors; may we see you soon over the board!
Friday, March 20, 2009
State Scholastic Championships Tomorrow
Tomorrow Lukas McCain looks to win his first state title at the high school championships in Orono. His chief competition expects to be Aaron Spencer of John Bapst, but there are many capable contenders to represent Maine at the Denker Tournament at the US Open in early August. Other contenders from eastern Maine include Gabe Borland from Orono, Henry Chai and Andrew Audibert from Bangor, and girls scholastic champion Margaret Bryan of Bapst. There have been many surprises over the years, so it should be an interesting day.
Top contenders for the Jr. High title include Matthew Fishbein of Cape Elizabeth and Paul Rudnicki of All Saints in Bangor. K-6 contenders are Wesley Parker of Cape, Andrew Turner of Deer Isle - Stonington, and Haley Deluca Lowell of Aurora. Also competing at the K-6 level are former K-3 champions Anna Bryan from the Airline School and Bethanny Humphrey of DI -S. At the K-3 level Soozin Cha (DI-S), Max Deluca Lowell (Airline), Brendan Parlee (Stillwater Montessori), and Ritvik Kumaran are all coming to the individual championships fresh off of unbeaten records at the team championships. These favorites will face many other hopefuls over four rounds of Game 60. Good luck to all the competitors!
Top contenders for the Jr. High title include Matthew Fishbein of Cape Elizabeth and Paul Rudnicki of All Saints in Bangor. K-6 contenders are Wesley Parker of Cape, Andrew Turner of Deer Isle - Stonington, and Haley Deluca Lowell of Aurora. Also competing at the K-6 level are former K-3 champions Anna Bryan from the Airline School and Bethanny Humphrey of DI -S. At the K-3 level Soozin Cha (DI-S), Max Deluca Lowell (Airline), Brendan Parlee (Stillwater Montessori), and Ritvik Kumaran are all coming to the individual championships fresh off of unbeaten records at the team championships. These favorites will face many other hopefuls over four rounds of Game 60. Good luck to all the competitors!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
All Girls Tournament Sees Repeat Winner
Today I played the role of Tournament Leader and proud father at the 4th All Girls Maine State Championship. When the games were all decided, Margaret Bryan led the way with 4.0 while two girls, Olympia Serban and Jessica Chen, finished 2nd and 3rd with 2.5 points. In the Under 600 section, Anne Witick captured a clear first with 3.5 points.
I was able to get the tournament off on schedule, and we were all done by 4:00. Thanks to the help of Ron Lewis and Kathy Richards we were well -prepared even without the erstwhile Dan DeLuca. We missed his presence, but we did our best to run a problem-free event as he is so good at doing.
The competition included 7 girls in the championship section and 11 in the Under 600. Most results held to form with the biggest upset being Claudia Serban over Cyndi Currier in the U600 section. Margaret's longest game was in the first round when she faced Cheverus High student Miriam Nielsen. Margaret won three years ago in the inaugural event and went to the Polgar in Chicago. Lily Briggs who won in 2007 is now at Wheaton College, while last year's winner Sorel Edes did not attend this year's event.
Margaret is a member of the John Bapst team that won last week's state team championship. She will be attending the Supernationals in Nashville along with her Bapst teammates and a strong Maine contingent from Cape Elizabeth and Deer Isle-Stonington and, let's not forget her sister, Anna, from the Airline Community School.
I was able to get the tournament off on schedule, and we were all done by 4:00. Thanks to the help of Ron Lewis and Kathy Richards we were well -prepared even without the erstwhile Dan DeLuca. We missed his presence, but we did our best to run a problem-free event as he is so good at doing.
The competition included 7 girls in the championship section and 11 in the Under 600. Most results held to form with the biggest upset being Claudia Serban over Cyndi Currier in the U600 section. Margaret's longest game was in the first round when she faced Cheverus High student Miriam Nielsen. Margaret won three years ago in the inaugural event and went to the Polgar in Chicago. Lily Briggs who won in 2007 is now at Wheaton College, while last year's winner Sorel Edes did not attend this year's event.
Margaret is a member of the John Bapst team that won last week's state team championship. She will be attending the Supernationals in Nashville along with her Bapst teammates and a strong Maine contingent from Cape Elizabeth and Deer Isle-Stonington and, let's not forget her sister, Anna, from the Airline Community School.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Fundraiser Tourney Set - March 27
It's confirmed. We will be using the FFA Room in the Memorial Union at the University of Maine to hold a tournament to raise funds to defray the cost of the trip to Nationals.
The format will be octets according to rating. Time controls will be G/35 and there will be three rounds beginning at 6:00. This will take place Friday, March 27. Winners of each octet will receive $25. We're hoping that we can generate enough interest to 16 participants. It should be a fun event. Let's hope the weather is better this year than last year when it snowed on our early April evening!
The format will be octets according to rating. Time controls will be G/35 and there will be three rounds beginning at 6:00. This will take place Friday, March 27. Winners of each octet will receive $25. We're hoping that we can generate enough interest to 16 participants. It should be a fun event. Let's hope the weather is better this year than last year when it snowed on our early April evening!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Looking Ahead
As a chess parent I find the lead-up to a "big" tournament a nerve racking experience. I enjoy being a part of the event, but nerves often get the best of me and force me to go for a walk or do something completely removed from the games. I have learned that my daughters do an excellent job of fending for themselves and seeing the situation on the board much better than an anxious father. I do wish that I could transfer a calm perspective, and, again, that's difficult to do when I'm not exactly exuding calmness myself.
I hope that the crosstables are out soon for the team championships. It will be nice to see the official results. For a stat guy like me a crosstable can give hours of entertainment.
Let's see what tomorrow brings!
I hope that the crosstables are out soon for the team championships. It will be nice to see the official results. For a stat guy like me a crosstable can give hours of entertainment.
Let's see what tomorrow brings!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Fundraiser Tournament in the Works
I'm trying to pull together a G/35 tournament for Friday, March 27 at UMaine to raise some money for the Bapst trip to Nationals. The format again would be octets, three rounds, and G/35. Entry fee would be $15 and winner of the octet would win $25. Let's hope it's a go. Last year we had a snowstorm that night. We had a good time even with only a small contingent.
Let's hope we can attract a few more people this time around.
Let's hope we can attract a few more people this time around.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
All Girls Tournament Up Next
After a successful day yesterday, many of the competitors look forward to the next two weekends with anticipation. Next week the girls will take to the boards to compete for an opportunity to represent the state at the Susan Polgar in Lubbock, Texas. It will be interesting to see what the numbers are like next week. Past champions Margaret Bryan of John Bapst (2006) and Sorel Edes of Orono (2008) are expected to compete.
On March 21 individual championships will be contested in five divisions: High School, High School Under 1200, Jr. High (K-8), K-6, and K-3. Favorites in the high school competition include Lucas McCain and Aaron Spencer, while Paul Rudnicki is the highest rated junior high student, Matthew Fishbein in K-6, and Soozin Cha in K-3. There are many others who have opportunities to take the titles; it should be an exciting competition. Come by the Memorial Union at the University of Maine in Orono to take in the action.
On March 21 individual championships will be contested in five divisions: High School, High School Under 1200, Jr. High (K-8), K-6, and K-3. Favorites in the high school competition include Lucas McCain and Aaron Spencer, while Paul Rudnicki is the highest rated junior high student, Matthew Fishbein in K-6, and Soozin Cha in K-3. There are many others who have opportunities to take the titles; it should be an exciting competition. Come by the Memorial Union at the University of Maine in Orono to take in the action.
State Team Championships 3/7/09
The Maine Scholastic Chess Team Championships were yesterday. The high school championship section came down to the last game between Kurt Eyerer of Jahn Bapst and Scott Dennis of Bangor. When Kurt checkmated Scott, he pulled Bapst into a final round split with Bangor (2 1/2- 2 1/2) that gave Bapst 3 1/2 points and a clinching of an outright title.
In the K-6 Championship section Cape Elizabeth survived a tight battle with Deer Isle - Stonington (2nd) and the the Airline Community School. Cape finished with 15 points, DIS 13.5 points and the Airline 12.5. Going into the last round Cape and the Airline had 11 while DIS had 10.5. It was a tense battle as the last two games remaining included two Airline students. If they had been able to pull out wins they would have captured the title, but it was not to be this year.
In the K-6 Championship section Cape Elizabeth survived a tight battle with Deer Isle - Stonington (2nd) and the the Airline Community School. Cape finished with 15 points, DIS 13.5 points and the Airline 12.5. Going into the last round Cape and the Airline had 11 while DIS had 10.5. It was a tense battle as the last two games remaining included two Airline students. If they had been able to pull out wins they would have captured the title, but it was not to be this year.
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